^^3 



, G' -T 



U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY— BULLETIN NO. 10. 



K. T. GALLOWAY, Cliief 'if Rurcnli. 



RECORDS OF SEED DISTRIBUTION 



COOPERATIVE EXPERIMENTS WITH GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS. 



F. LAMSON-SCJRIBNER, Aorostologist, 

GRASS AND FORAGE PLANT INVESTIGATIONS. 




WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 
1903. 

Neiragn^ 




Book_ ' ^f3 



Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2010 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/recordsofseeddisOOIams 



3r/ 



U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 

BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY— BULLETIN NO. 10. 

B. T. GALLOWAY, Chief of Bureau. 






RECORDS OF SEED DISTRIBUTION 



COOPERATIVE EXPERIMENTS WITH GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS. 



BY 



F. LAMSON-SCRIBNER, Agrostologist, 

GRASS AND FORAGE PLANT INVESTIGATIONS. 




WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 



1902. 



^ 




1^^ 



LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

Bureau of Plant Industry, 

Office of the Chief, 
Was/imgton, D. C, Decemher'26, 1901. 
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith the manuscript of a paper 
entitled Hecords of Seed Distribution and Cooperative Experiments 
with Grasses and Forage Plants, by F. Larason-Scribner, Agrostolo- 
gist, and recommend its publication as Bulletin No. 10 of the Bureau 
series. 

Respectfully, B. T. Galloway, 

Chief of Bureau,. 
Hon. James Wilson, 

Secretary of Agriculture. 



JAN 8 1907 
i>. ofD, 






PREFACE. 



This bulletin relates to the collection and distribution of seeds of 
grasses and forage plants by the Department of Agriculture through 
the Office of the Agrostologist, formerly Division of Agrostology, and 
to cooperative work in grass and forage plant investigations with a 
number of State experiment stations to whom these seeds were sent. 
The manner of keeping the records of this seed distribution is 
explained in detail, and the plan of conducting the cooperative experi- 
ments and the line of work or forage problem taken up with each sta- 
tion are fully given. This work was put into operation last year in 
compliance with an act of Congress, and has proven so satisfactory to 
all concerned that it has been continued the present year, although 
there are now no statutory regulations requiring that it should be. 

F. Lamson-Scribner, 

Ag?'ostologist. 

Office of the Agrostologist, 

Washington, D. C. , JVovember 29, 190 J. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Purchase and collection of seeds, roots, and specimens 7 

Cooperation with the stations authorized 8 

Lines of investigations of forage problems 8 

Articles of cooperation ._ 9 

Seed distribution -- 11 

Table showing distribution by i^ackages. 11 

Table showing distribution by pounds in 1900-1901 . _ 12 

Table showing amounts of the several varieties distributed 13 

Seeds to private individuals 16 

System of keeping records -_ 17 

A list of experiment stations with which articles of cooperation liave been 

signed 22 

Conclusion - 23 

5 



Agros. — 91. 
B. P. I.— 12. 

RECORDS OF SEED DISTRIBUTION AND COOPERATIVE EXPERI- 
MENTS WITH GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS. 



PURCHASE AND COLLECTION OF SEEDS, BOOTS, AND SPECIMENS. 

House bill No. 121, Fifty-sixth Congress, first session, making 
appropriations for the United States Department of Agriculture, con- 
tained the following clause : 

Provided, That six thousand dollars of the amount hereby appropriated [for grass 
and forage plant investigations] be used to purchase and collect seeds, roots, and 
specimens of valuable and economic grasses and forage plants to be distributed to 
the various experiment stations in the several States and Territories, to be by them 
used, under the direction of the Secretary of Agriculture, to ascertain their adapt- 
ability to the various soils and climates of the United States. 

In carrying out the plans necessary to meet this provision in the bill 
making appropriations for the Agricultural Department, Mr. C. L. 
Shear, an assistant in the Division of Agrostology, was put in charge 
of the seed and field work July 1, 1900, when the law makmg the 
appropriations went into effect; Mr. Shear was instructed to make 
collections of seeds of the valuable native grasses and forage plants and 
was directed to secure in quantity seeds of wild range grasses, also 
those species of probable value in the South for winter pasturage, 
those likely to prove good meadow grasses for high altitudes, and of 
those adapted to binding drifting sands. In carrying out this work it 
not infrequently happened that long, tedious journeys had to be made 
to regions inaccessible to stock before grasses in seed could be found 
and collections made. As a result of this work in the field during the 
season 4 tons of seed of about 130 varieties of grasses and forage plants 
were gathered, the quantities varying from 1 pound to 500 pounds. 
A list of the varieties of seeds gathered, with notes upon some of the 
more important species, was presented in Circular No. 9, issued from 
the office of the Secretary in December, 1900. In conducting the 
cooperative work with the stations, which will be referred to later ,^ it 
was necessary to supplement this amount of seeds of native varieties 
by purchasing from dealers seeds of the more important tame grasses 
and forage plants which the experiments called for. 



b COOPERATIVE EXPERIMENTS. 

COOPERATION WITH THE STATIONS AtTTHORIZED. 

Ill the House hill refeired to above, making appropriations for the 
Department of Agriculture for 1900-1901, there was this clause: 

And the agricultural experimental stations are hereby authorized and directed to 
cooperate with the Secretary of Agriculture in establishing and maintaining experi- 
mental grass stations for determining the best methods of caring for and improving 
meadows and grazing lands, the use of different grasses and forage plants, their 
adaptabilit}' to various soils and climates, the best nati\'e and foreign species for 
reclaiming tlie overstocked ranges and pastures, for I'enovating M'orn-out lands, for 
binding drifting sands and washed lands, for turfing lawns and pleasure grounds, and 
for solving the various forage problems presented in the several sections of our 
country. 

In order to cany out this feature of the law, the Secretarj- of Agri- 
culture, through the recommendation of the Agi'ostologist, directed 
Mr. Thomas A. Williams, then assistant chief of the Division of 
Agrostology, to visit the several experiment stations, especiallj' those 
in the Western States, to study the forage problems of most im- 
portance to each, and by consulting with the directors of the stations 
to arrange plans for carrying on cooperative work with them with the 
view of solving the prolilems determined upon. 

LINES OF INVESTIGATIONS OF FORAGE PROBLEMS. 

Mr. Williams says in his report, published as Circular No. 8 (revised), 
of the office of the Secretary: 

In brief, this series of visits to the stations demonstrates clearly not only that there 
are many problems which can be studied much better through station and Depart- 
mental cooperation, but that the station authorities themselves appreciate the desira- 
bility of such cooperative work and are eager to enter into it. It is recognized that 
in these general problems, while the stations are able to work out the details of experi- 
ments and matters of relatively local bearing, there is a most important phase of the 
investigations that can be much more satisfactorily handled by the Department, and, 
in order to secure the best results to the country at large, it is highly desirable that 
there should be the closest cooperation between stations and Departmental investi- 
gations. In addition to the assistance which the Department can render the stations 
in solving these special problems through the detailing of its experts for field investi- 
gations and supplying seed for experiments, this cooperation will have a most impor- 
tant bearing on the work of the stations in encouraging greater concentration on 
lines of greatest importance to the people and in rendering more readily available to 
the station workers the experience and training of the Departmental experts. 

Consultation with the station authorities has emphasized the desirability of coop- 
eration along a number of lines of investigation, the following being perhaps the 
most important at the present time and including every section of the country. 

(1) The formation, care, and management of pastures, including the selection of 
the best varieties, methods of preparing the soil and of planting the seed, and after 
treatment of grass lands, including grazing, rest, fertilizing, and cultivation. 

(2) Range improvement, or the best methods of bringing up the natural grass 
ands of the great range regions of the country and maintaining them in the condi- 
tion of greatest productivity, including the improvement of the native grass cover by 
reseeding, alternation of rest and grazing periods, scarifying, etc. 



ARTICLES OF COOPEKATION. y 

(3) Alkali-resistaiit crops, particularly those best adapted to furnishing forage that 
can be used to supplement the native ranges. 

(4) Cover crops for soils liable to wash, which will at the same time afford a sup- 
ply of forage or can be turned under for green manure. 

(5) A continuous soiling series for use in sections where tbe dairying industry is 
paramount. 

(6) Winter pasturage for the South and Southwest. 

(7) Sand-binding grasses for the coast regions and along the Great Lakes. 

(8) Jleadow crops for higher altitudes, particularly in the Rocky Mountain States, 
where, although pasturage is abundant, crops that will produce profitable amounts 
of hay are greatlj' needed. 

(9) Supplementary forage crops, particularly those with a short season of growth, 
that can be grown in rotation with wheat, cotton, and other primary crops, either 
for forage or for the improvement of the soil fertility. 

(10) Drought-resistant crops for arid sections. 

(11) The selection and development of improved varieties of grasses and forage 
crops adapted to special conditions and uses. 

As a result of visiting the State stations, and through correspondence, it has been 
ascertained that cooperative work can be arranged for the investigation of each of 
these problems with one or more stations most advantageously situated, and there 
is no question as to urgent need of such investigations. 

AKTICLES OF COOPERATION. 

A plan was devi.sed to carry on this work under articles of coopera- 
tion signed bj^ tiie station officials and officials of this Department, of 
which the following are presented as examples: 

Articles of cooperation in investigations on improvement of the Northwestern ranges 

between the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Division of 

Agrostology, United States Department of Agriculture. 

The object of these investigations shall be to find the best and most practical way 
of improving the forage conditions in the dry sections of the Northwest, and 
specially of renewing the worn-out ranges and devising methods of managing them 
whereby the highest degree of productivity may be maintained. The following 
plan of cooperation is agreed upon: 

1. The Experiment Station to procure a suitable tract of range 

land; to undertake immediate supervision of the work through a member of its 
official staff; and to furnish all implements, fencing, etc., required by the investiga- 
tions, the same to be the sole property of the station when this cooperative 
arrangement is dissolved. 

2. The LT. S. Department of Agriculture, through the Division of Agrostology, to 
assist in selecting the land and in planning and conducting, these investigations; to 
furnish seed of native and introduced grasses and forage plants for experiments on 
said tracts, and pay other expenses connected with the investigations, not to exceed 

in any one fiscal year, it being understood tliat under the appropriation 

act the Department can not assume responsibility for the continuance of its contri- 
bution beyond June 30, 1901. 

3. The investigations conducted under this cooperative agreement shall be planned 

conjointly by the representatives of the Experiment Station and 

the Division of Agrostology, officially charged with the work, subject to the approval 
of the proper authorities in each case. 



10 COOPERATIVE EXPERIMENTS. 

4. Botli parties to this agreement shall lie free at any time to use the results 
obtained in these investigations in their official correspondence and publications, 
giving pi'oper credit to the fact that such results have been secured by cooperative 
work. 



Director Ex'periment Station. 

Approved : 



Chief Division nf A;iri/stoloi/ii. 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



Articles of cooperation in grass and forage pla7it- investigations between the • 

Agricultural E.xperimenl Station and the Divison of Agrostology, United States Depart- 
ment of Agriculture. 

The object of these investigations shall be to find the best crops for supplying for- 
age to supplement the natural ranges and for the improvement of cultivated lands. 
The following plan of cooperation is agreed npon: 

1. The Experiment Station to provide land at the home station, 

or at outl3'ing representative points in that territory, upon which to make said exper- 
iments, and to undertake the immediate care and supervision of the work. 

2. The U. S. Department of Agriculture, through the Division of Agrostology, to 
furnish all seeds necessary in making these experiments, and to otherwise assist in 
planning and conducting said investigations. 

3. The investigations conducted under this cooperative agreement shall be planned 
conjointly by the representatives of the Experiment Station and 

. the Division of Agrostology officially charged with the work, subject to the approval 
of the proper authorities in each case. 

4. Both parties to this agreement shall be free at an)' time to use the results 
obtained in these investigations, giving proper credit to the fact that such results 
have been secured by cooperative work. 

\ Director Experiment Station. 



Chief Division of Agrostology. 
Approved: 



Secretary of Agriculture. 

The following is the form in use since the organization of the Bureau 
of Plant Industry': 

Articles of cooperation in grass and forage jdant investigations between the ]\'yoming State 
Experiment Station and the Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department of 
Agriculture. 

The subject of these investigations shall be grasses and forage plants for alkali soils 
and arid lands. 

1. The Wyoming Experiment Station to furnish the land necessary for the said 
experiments, to undertake the immediate supervision and care of the work, and to 
assist in planning the investigations. 

2. The United States Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Plant 
Industry, Office of Grass and Forage Plant Investigations, to assist in planning and 
conducting the said investigations, and to furnish all seeds necessary for making the 
experiments. 



SEED DISTBIBUTION. 



11 



3 The investigations conducted under this cooperative agreement shall be planned 
coujoIitV by thirepresentatives of the Wyoming Experiment StatK,n and the Bureau 
o? Plant Industry, officially charged with the work, subject to the approval ot the 
proper authorities in each case. ^^„-,ua 

"^ 4 Both parties to this agreement shall be free, at any tune, to use the results 
obtained in these investigations in their official correspondence and publications, 
gSg proper credit to the fact that such results have been secured by cooperative 
work. Elmer E. Smiley, 

Director Wyoming Experiment Station. 
B. T. Galloway, 
Chief Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture. 

At the present time fifteen of the experiment stations are working 
in cooperation with the Department on one or more of the lines con- 
nected with grass and forage plant investigations. 
SEED DISTBIBTTTION. 

Since the organization of the Division of Agrostology seeds of 
grasses and forage plants have each year been distributed to the agri- 
cultural experiment stations and to many individual experimenters. 
The following table shows the number of packages of seed so distrib- 
uted during the fiscal years 1896-1901, inclusive; the total number ot 
packages sent to the experiment stations during this time being 4 166, 
and to individuals 9,377, or a total of 13,513 packages (see Tab e I). 
These for the most part were seeds which were obtained through the 
direct eflorts of the employees of the Division by collections in the 
field During the fiscal year 1900-1901 there were distributed to the 
experiment stations 16,101i pounds of seed, embracing 171 varieties, 
as shown in Tables II and III. 

Table l.-Number of packages of seed distributed to the experiment stations and to indi- 
viduals during the fiscal years 1896 to 1901, inclusive, or for five years, through the 
Division of Agrostology. °- 



Distribution. 


1896 

to 

1897. 


1897 

to 

1898. 


1898 

to 

1899. 


1899 

to 

1900. 


1900 

to 

1901. 


1 
Total for 
the five 
years. 


Total number ot packages sent to experi- 


2,281 
6S2 


184 
2,749 


462 
1,739 


292 
2,709 


947 
1,548 


4,166 
9,377 


Total number of packages sent to indi- 


Total number of packages distributed 


2,913 


2,933 


2,201 


3,001 


2,496 


13,643 



'This does not include the packages distributed to foreign countries. 



12 



COOPERATIVE EXPERIMENTS. 



Table II. — Amount (in potmds) of Keed.f of tjrosses and forage plants dhlrihnted to the 
experbnenl stations and to Indinduals in the seceral States and. Territories in coopera- 
tion 'irilh the stations diirinff tlie tisral year 1000-1901. 



States and Territories. 



Aliibnma 


PoitntU. 




710 




California 






444 


Connecticut 


Delaware 


171 




Georg-ia 




Idaho 


130 
133 




Indiana 


Iowa 





Seeds 
sent to 
experi- 
ment 
stations. 



Kansas 

Kentucky . 
Louisiana . 
Maine 



Maryland 

Massachusetts... 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Montana 

Xebraslva 

New Hampshire. 

New Jersey 

New Mexico 

New York 

Nortli Carolina .. 
North Dakota . . . 

Nevada 

Ohio 



136 

65 

360 



380 



Oklahoma 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania . . 
Rhode Island... 
South Carolina . 
South Dakota . . 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Utah 

Virginia 

"Washington 

West Virginia . . 

Wisconsin 

Wyoming 



10 

69U 

193i 

2491 

1,700 

75 
563 

814 
773 
485 
202 
100 

30 
670i 



Total . 



50 
17i 
307i 
440J 
752i 
35 
107 
1,695 
30 
125 
1,014 

16,101i 



Seeds 
seiit to 
individ- 
uals in 
cooperu' 
tion with 
the ex- 
periment 
stations. 



Pounds. 



Total 
weight 
seeds dis- 
tributed 
to each 
State. 



46} 
242J 
108 



51 -J 
142 

23J 
283J 

20 

61 

456i 

262i 

14 
128 
51SJ 
214,1 

63 
119 

66i 
244i 
227J 
231} 
134 
238 

76 J- 
137 

80 
169 

41 

75i 

lOJ 
2181 
2141 



78} 
208S 
252 
117} 

32} 
3591 

43 
31 

64 
751 

7, 051 1 



Pimnds. 

30 
710 
2.574 

46} 
686^ 
108 
171 

.51 S 
142 
153J 
410S 

20 
6i 
1,6011 
2921 
149 
193 
S78i 
214} 
433 
119 

75i 
936}- 
421} 
4S1 
3, 834 
313 
6391 
218i 
863 
654 
243 
175i 
40} 
888} 
214} 
50 
95} 
5' 6 
692} 
870} 
67} 
466} 
1,738 
33} 
189 
1,765 

23, 152} 



SEED DISTRIBUTION. 



13 



Table III. — Varieties of grasses and forage plants, seeds of which were distributed through 
the Division of Agrostology in 1900-1901, the amount in pounds of each variety sent, out, 
both to the experiment stations and to individuals in cooperation with the stations, and the 
total amount distributed. 



Variety. 



Latin name. 



English name. 



Sent to 
stations. 



Sent to 
individ- 
uals. 



Total 
dis- 
tributed. 



Agropyron caninum 

Agropyron divergens 

Agropyron occidentale 

Agropyron richardsoni 

.\gropyron riparium 

Agropyron spicatum 

Agropyron tenerum 

Agropyron violaceum 

Agrostis alba 

Agrostis canina 

Agrostis stolonifera 

Alopecurufe occidentale 

Alopecurus pratensis 

Aristida humboldtiana 

Aristida fasciculata 

Ammophila arenaria 

Andropogon saccharoides 

.\ntho.\anthum odoratum 

Arrhenatherum elatius 

.\ triplex eanescens 

.\triplex confertifolia 

Atriplex eremicola 

Atriple.x halimoides 

Atriplex holocarpa 

Atriplex nuttallii 

Atriplex pabularis 

Atriplex semibaccata 

Atriplex truncata 

Atriplex volutans 

Avena sativa 

Beckmaunia erucEeformis 

Bouteloua oligostachya 

Bouteloua bromoides 

Bouteloua curtipendula 

Bouteloua eriopoda 

Bouteloua hirsuta 

Bouteloua humboldtiana 

Bouteloua polystaehya 

Brassica napus 

Bromus inermis 

Bromus marginatus 

Bromus pallidus 

Bromus polyanthus 

Bromus pumpellianus 

Bromus richardsoni 

Bromus schraderi 

Bromus unioloides 

Bulbilis dactyloides 

Calamagrostis canadensis var . 
Calamovilfa longifolia 



Bearded wheat grass 

Bunch wheat grass 

Western wheat grass 

Richardson's wheat grass . . 

Riparian wheat grass 

Bunch wheat grass 

Slender wheat grass 



Red top 

Rhode Island bent 

Creeping bent 

Mountain foxtail 

Meadow foxtail 

Humboldt's triple-awn . 

Triple-awn 

Beach grass 

Feather beard grass 

Sweet vernal grass 

Tall oat grass 

Shad scale 

Spiny saltbush 



Gray saltbush 

Annual saltbush . . 
Nuttall's saltbush . 



Australian saltbush 

Utah saltbush 

Tumbling saltbush 

Winter oats 

Slough grass 

Blue grama , 

Brome grama 

Side-oats grama 

Woolly-foot grama 

Bristly grama 

Humboldt's grama 

Low grama 

Rape 

Awnless brome grass 

Short-awned brome grass . 



Many-flowered brome 

Mountain brome grass 

Richardson s brome 

Schrader's brome 

Rescue grass 

Buffalo grass {roots only) , 

Canada blue joint , 

Sand grass , 



Po 



unds. 
23i 
10 
491i 
1 
5 
428 
4281 
U 
2744 
18 
8 
2 
18 
li 
i 

167 
186i 

1 

244 

Hi 

2 

20i 

49 

124 

43 

11 

108 

12 

21i 

21 

26 

1291 

10 

52} 

5i 

11 

6 

721 
13 
459 
154 
9 
19 
4 
9 
1 
3224 



Pounds. 
22 
12 
861 



541 
824 



55 
5i 



934 
25 



28 
54- 



17j 
64 



67i 



2i 
14 



18 



351 

7444 

13 



914 



Pomids. 
454 
22 
577J 
1 
5 
4824 
510} 
li 
347 
73 
131 
2 
28 
11 

2604 
2111 

1 

272 

17 

2 

231 

661 

19 

661 

11 

175} 

12 

23} 

35 

25 

1471 

10 

58} 

5J 

11 

5 

724 

481 

1, 2034 

167 

9 

19 



1 
414 



14 



COOPERATIVE EXPERIMENTS. 



Xahle III. — Tandic.v nf (/raKKix and forage plants, dr. — Continued. 



Variety. 



Latin uamc. 



I-]nt(lish name. 



Gram or chick pea 

Bermuda grass 

Crested dog's tail 

Orchard grass 

Button grass 

Tufted hair grass 

Beggarweed 

Perennial beggarweed . 



Carex macrocephahi Big head sedge 

ChEetocbloa composiia Arizona millet 

Chjetochloa italiea German millet , 

Chsetoehloa itjilica var Golden wonder millet. 

Chloris elegans 

Cicer arietinum .. 

Cynodon dactylon 

Cynosurus erislatus 

Dactylis glomerata 

Daetyloctenium australiense 

Deschampsja eaespitosa 

Desmodium tortuosum, var.. 

Desmodium sp 

Eatonia obtusata 

Eleusine coracaua 

Elymus ambiguus 

Elymus arenarius 

Elymus canadensis 

Elymus canadensis var 

Elymus coudensatus 

Elymus glabriflorus ' Smooth-flowered rye grass. . 

Elymus glaucus Mountain rye grass 

Elymus macounii ' Macoun's rye grass 

Elymus simplex j Alkali rye grass 

Elymus virginieus .submuticus i Short-awned rye grass 

Eragrostis neo-mexicana I Mexican love grass 



Sent to 
stations. 



African millet 



Sea rye grass 

Canada rye grass . 
do 

Giant rye grass . . . 



Eriochloa punctata 

Eriocoma cuspidata ... 
Erodium cicutarium . . 

Ervum lens 

Euchlffina mexicana .. 

Eurotia lanata 

Festuca arundinacea. . 

Festuca duriuscula 

Festuca elatior 

Festuca heterophylla . 

Festuca kingii 

Festuca ovina 

Festuca rubra 

Festuca thurberi 

Glycine hispida 

Helianthus sp 

Hilaria ceuchroides ... 

Hilaria mutica 

Hordeum vulgare 

Koeleria eristata 

Lathyrus sativus 

Leptochloa dubia 

Lespedeza striata. » 

Lolium italicum 

Lolinm perenne 

Lycurus phleoides 

Medicago dentieulata . 



Everlasting grass 

Indian millet 

Alfilaria 

Lentils 

Teosinte 

Winter fat 

Reed fescue 

Hard fescue 

Meadow fescue 

Various-leaved fescue . 

King's fescue 

Sheep's fescue 

Red fescue 

Thurber's fescue 

Soy bean 

Sunflower 

Curly mesquite 

Black galleta 

Barley 

Prairie June grass 

Bitter flat pea 



Japan clover 

Italian ray grass 

Perennial ray grass. 

Texas timotl^y 

Bur clover 



5J 
■20 



2 

20 

7 

424 

25 

2 

2 

3 

1 

5 



167i 
56J 
491 

93 
151 
11 
17 
86 
13 

oi 

83 

6 

1 
22 

8i 
41 
17 
4061 

1 

75 

6S 
24 

3 
361 J 



9j 

12 

2 

115 

13.1 

32 
117 
298 

161 
154 



Sent to 
individ- 
uals. 



Total 
dis- 
tributed. 



Pounds. 
132 



49J 



4 

501 
29J 
130 

3 



2 
3 

15 
6 
9 



5 
54J 



3 

2571 
15 

63 
65 



20 
145S 
35 



Poumts. 
141 
5i 
69J 

t 

llj- 
6 
701 
36.1 
554 
28 



9 

182i 

62} 

■m 

93 
191 
11 
20 
S7J 
13 

2.1 
91 
11 

1 
763 

81 

41 

20 

6623 

16 

8 
695 
89 

3 
6651 



9j 

12 

2 

331 

131 

52 
262i 
333 

16i 
192 



SEED DISTRIBUTION. 



15 



Table III. — Varieiies of grasses and forage plants, etc. — Continued. 



Variety. 



Latin name. 



English name. 



Sent to 
stations. 



Sent to 
individ- 
uals. 



Total 
dis- 
tributed. 



Medicago raacnlata 

Medicago sativa 

Medicago sativa turkestanica . 

Medicago sativa var 

Melilotus alba 

Melinis minutiflora 

Mucuna utilis 

Muhlenbergia racemosa 

Mublenbergia gracilis 

Onobrychis sativa 

Panicularia americana 

Panicum bulbosum .-. . . 

Panicum bulbosum var 

Panicum crus-galli 

Panicum miliaceum 

Panicum obtusum 

Panicum texanum 

Pappophorum apertum 

Paspalum compressum 

PaSpalum dilatatum 

Phalaris arundinacea 

Phaseohis mungo 

Phaseolus retusus 

Phaseolus sp 

Phleum asperum 

Phleum pratense 

Pisum arvense 

Pisum sativum var 

Poa compressa 

Poa fendleriana 

Poa glaucifolia 

Poa laeviculmis 

Poa laevigata 

Poalucida 

Poa macrantha 

Poa nevadensis 

Poa pratensis 

Poa Irivialis 

Poa wheeleri 

Poterium sanguisorba 

Puccinellia airoides 

Eumex sp 

Sorghum vulgare var 

Sorghum vulgare var 

Sorghum vulgare var , 

Sorghum vulgare var , 

Sorghum vulgare var 

Secale cereale 

Sporobolus airoides 

Sporobolus cryptandrus 

Sporobolus depauperatus 

Sporobolus wrightii 



Alfalfa 

Turkestan alfalfa . 

Oasis alfalfa 

Sweet clover 

Molasses grass 

Velvet bean 

Wild timothy 



Pounds. 

2 
1,371 

6 
11 
80J 
28 
47 



Pounds. 



1,60U 
57 



Sainfoin 

American manna grass. 

Turnip grass 

do 

Barnyard grass 

Broom-corn millet 



Colorado grass. 



Carpet grass 

Large water grass 

Reed canary grass 

Green gram 

Metcalfe bean 

Vallo bean 

Sand timothy 

Timothy 

Russian blue field pea 

Black marrow-fat pea 

Canada blue grass 

Mutton grass 

Glaucous blue grass 

Smooth-stemmed blue grass 

Smooth blue grass 

Shining blue grass 

Sea-side blue grass 

Nevada blue grass 

Kentucky blue grass 

Rough-stalked blue grass .. 

Wheeler's blue grass 

Burnet 

Alkali spear grass 

Dock 

Kafir corn 

Colman cane 

Early amber cane 

Early orange cane 

Folger's cane 

Winter rye 

Fine saccaton 

Dropseed 

Steel grass 

Wright's saccaton 



J 

138i 

3 

14 

4» 

nbi 

1,226 



10 
23 

73 

2 
s 
618 
72 
62 
931 

■2 

1 

44 
15 
46 
1774 

4 
3664 

44 

V4 
754 
16 

2 
12 

6 

6 



122 
294 
12i 
3 
294 



21 
10 



3684 

230? 

12 

177 



114 
14 



1724 
914 



604 



, 2 
1564 



10 

1 

26 



3 
34 



Pounds. 

7 
2, 8724 
63 
U 
1084 
•28 
51 



i 

1594 

13 

14 

4J 

1,084 

1, 456} 

15J 

547 

4 
12 
■214 
23 

94 



1634 

122 

144 

2 

1 

44 

15 

48 

334 

4 

4434 

144 

84 

1014 

16 

2 

254 

6 

9 

6 

6 

122 

294 

151 

3 

32i 



IG COOPEBATIVE EXPERIMENTS. 

Tahi.k III. — Varieties of rf raises and forage jjhinls, t'f<\ — Continued. 



Variety. 



Lntiii name. 



English iijime. 



Sent to 
stations. 



Sent to Total 
individ- 1 dis- 
uals. ' tributed. 



SporoboUis wrightii var 

Stipa viridula 

Stipa sp 

Triodia mutica 

Trifolium alexandrinum Egyptian clover. 

Trifolium hybriduni , ALsike clover 

Trifolium incarnatum ! Crimson clover . . 



Trifolium medium 
Trifolium pratcnse . 
Trifolium repeus , . . 

Triticum spelta 

Vicia mari tima 

Vicia villosa 

Vigna catjang 

Vigna catjang- vnr , 

Zea mays 

Zizania aquatica . . . 

Total 



Mammoth clover. 

Red clover 

White clover , 

Spelt 

Seaside vetch 

Hairy vetch 

Cowpea 

Black cowpea 

Indian corn 

Wild rice 



Pounds. 
10 



10 

7i 
2 

10 
615 
135 

21 

18 

309 

2,180S 

204 

22; 



Potindif. 



16,101i 



100 

mi 

65 
42 
11 
17 



228 
loOJ 



Pounds. 
10 



13 

107J 

5Si 

75 

657 

146 

38 

IS 

537 

2,331 

204 

28i 

2 



7,051J 



23, 162 j 



Note. — Total varieties, 171. 

SEEDS TO PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS. 

Mfiny applications were made to the Secretary of Agriculture by 
individuals for seeds of grasses adapted to special conditions for purely 
experimental purposes. In order to meet these requests and to keep 
all of our work in line of cooperation with the experiment stations, 
the following- letter was addressed to the directors of the several 
stations under date of Januarj^ 31, 1901: 

U. S. Department ot' Agriculture, 

BuKE.\u OF Plant Industry, 

Office of the Agrostologist, 
WdnJiington, D. C, January 31, 1901. 
Sir: Bequests for seeds of grasses and forage-plants for special purposes are received 
by this Department from many private individuals throughout the country and prior 
to the current fiscal year the Secretary has, so far as possible, generously responded to 
these requests. For the most part they have come from intelligent and progressive 
farmers who had definite objects in view and whose reports relative to the seeds sent 
them have oftentimes been ot great value. A record has been kept of every package 
of seed thus sent out and we have classed the parties as our "volunteer experi- 
menters" and our cooperation with them, costing only the seed sent, has been 
mutually advantageous. We would be glad to continue this line of work and hope 
that you will enable us to do so and respectfully ask your cooperation in the matter. 
If agreeable to you, we will refer all applications for seeds and grasses and forage 
plants made l)y individuals in your State to you by addressing them a letter like the 
inclosed (marked 1). If they then should write to you and you deem it wise for us 
to honor their request, the seeds will be forwarded, so far as our supply will permit. 
We will notify you of the shipment of the seed on a card similar to the inclosed 



SYSTEM OF KEEPING RECOBDS. 17 

(marked 2), which is our preliminary step in tlie record. We could, if you wish, 
send seed in quantity to you to be redirected to individuals in your State from, your 
station. In such case we would expect you to furnish us the addresses of the parties 
to whom the seed was sent and the amount in each case. At the close of each season 
we send blanks (marked 3) to every individual to whom seeds have been sent from 
this office for the purpose of obtaining a report as to the results of the experiments 
or progress made. We arrange with every one receiving seeds in the way here 
described to report results to this office and we will, upon your request, send you 
duplicate copies of these reports and thus share with you in all the results obtained. 
I would be pleased to have an expression from you in regard to this plan of coopera- 
tion with individuals. 

Respectfully, F. Lamson-Sceibnbr, 

Agrostologist. 
Agricultukal Experiment Station, 

Manhattan, Kans. 

The scheme proi^osed in this communication met with very favorable 
reception on the part of the experiment stations, as will be seen by 
the replies here quoted, which are in the main expressions of all those 
i"eceived. 

Washington Agricultural College and School of Science, 

Pullman, Wash., February 8, 1901. 
Dear Sir: I am in receipt of your favor of January 31, and note carefully the plan 
outlined therein for the distribution of seeds of grasses and forage plants in the sev- 
eral States. The plan you propose meets with my approval and will have the hearty 
cooperation of this station. 
Yours, very truly, 

E. A. Bryan, President. 
F. Lamson-Scribner, 

Agrostologist, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 



The Pennsylvania State College 

Agricultural Experiment Station, 

February 19, 1901. 
Dear Sir: Replying to yours of January 31, relative to the matter of distribution 
of seeds and forage plants, I beg to say that it would give this station pleasure to 
accept your very courteous and generous proposal in regard to cooperation. If you 
will refer applicants to us as requested, we will be very glad to advise you as to the 
matter of honoring their requests and to receive from you the duplicate reports of 
results. 

Very respectfully, yours, H. P. Armsby", Director. 

Mr. F. Lamson-Scribner, 

Unitea States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 

The total amounts of seeds thus distributed to individuals in each 
State is shown in Table II, and the total quantity of each varietj' of 
seed so distributed is shown in Table III. 

SYSTEM OF KEEPING BECOBDS. 

In order to bring all this work into such shape that the results might 
be utilized by both the stations and the Department, the following plan 
of records was adopted. Upon the receipt of an application from a 

13638— No. 10—02 2 



18 COOPERATIVE EXPERIMENTS. 

correspondent in any given State, the following letter was sent to the 

applicant: 

U. S. Department of Agriculture, 
Grass and Forage Plant Investigations, Division of Agrostology, 

WasUnrjlon, D. C, , 1901. 

Dear Sir: Your letter of , addressed to , has been referred to 

this division. The law (House bill No. 121, Fifty-sixth Congress, first session, mak- 
ing appropriations for the Department of Agriculture) requires that all seeds of 
grasses and forage plants distributed by this division for experimental use be sent to 
the experiment stations. We will be pleased to honor, so far as possible, any requests 
for seeds made through the director of your agricultural experiment station, located 

at . Please state definitely to the director the object of your request. 

EespectfuUy, 

F. Lajison-Scribner, 

Agroslologist. 

If the request was indorsed by the director of the experiment sta- 
tion a card was then made out in accordance with the following blank, 
directing the shipping clerk to send the seed, and when the shipment 
was made this card was returned to the office of the Agrostologist and 
filed for record. 

State; . • , 1901. 

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 

Office of Plant Industry, 

washington, d. c. 

Cooperative Experiments in Grass and Forage Plant Investigations with 
Experiment Station. 

Name and address of experimenter: . 

Variety of seed and amount sent: . 

Source and age of seed: . 

Object of experiment: • . 

Date of shipment: . 

At the same time a card, the form of which is shown below, was 
sent to the director of the experiment station, advising him of the 
shipment, and this card was designed for filing at the station : 

Cooperative Experiments in Grass and Forage Plant Investigations. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Washington, D. C. Experiment Station 

Name and address of experimenter : . 

Variety of seed and amount sent : . 

Source of seed : . 



Object of experiment : . 

Seeds shipped , 190 — . Report received , 190 — . 

When seeds were sent to any individual under this plan he was 
advised of the fact by the following letter, in which the nature of final 
report expected from the correspondent was outlined. We found this 
to be important, for in many cases when we had called for reports as 
to results of seeds distributed the party receiving them often said 
that he wished he had known earlier the nature of the report wanted, 



SYSTEM OF KEEPING RECOEDS. 19 

and he would have taken the necessary notes. This letter was designed 
to cover this ground. 

U. S. Dbpaetment of Agricultuee, 
Grass axd Forage Plant Investigations, 

Washington, D. C, , 190-. 

Dear Sir: In accordance with arrangements made with the director of the agri- 
cultural experiment station of your State for conducting cooperative experiments 
with grasses and forage plants, the following seeds are being sent to you: 



In sending you these seeds it is understood that you will try them in an experi- 
mental way to test their adaptability to your section or their special value. It is 
further understood that you will give them all the care necessary to meet the 
requirements of the experiment and report the result obtained on blanks which will 
be furnished you at the proper time. These reports will be filed in this oflice and 
copies will be sent to the director of your State experiment station. The following 
are the principal points to be noted: 

Conditou and preparation of soil. Yield per acre of forage or seed, or 

Date and method of planting. both. 

Method of cultivation, if any. Stand and amount of grow^th made. 

Date of full bloom. Value of the plant as food for stock. 

Date of ripening. Also any other miscellaneous notes of 

Date and method of harvesting. economic interest. 

Quality of the product. 

The seed produced by native and introduced plants, not obtainable from seedsmen, 
should be carefully saved. 

Respectfully, F. Lamson-Scribnee, 

Agrostologist. 

At the close of the season blanks for reports of the form here pre- 
sented will be sent to everyone who received seeds. Copies of these 
reports will be sent to the directors of the experiment stations in the 
States where the experimenters are located. 

. UNITED STATES DEPABTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

Grass and Forage Plant Investigations. 

experiments with grasses and forage plants. 

Report on varieties cultivated at . [Name town, county, and State.} 

Common name, . Latin name, . 

Kind, condition, and preparation of soil, . 

Date and method of planting, . 

Cultivation, if any, . 

Date and method of harvesting and stageof maturity reached when harvested, . 

Date of full bloom, . Date of ripening, . 

Yield per acre (if practicable) , . 

Quality of product, . 

Notes on growth, . 

Your opinion of the value of the plant as feed for stock, 



Name of experimenter, . Post-office, . County, . State,- 



20 



COOPERATIVE EXPERIMENTS. 

[On reverse.] 

OKNEUAI, HEMy\IiKS. 



t^ 



5 » 



,_. 


r 


s- 


1^ 


o 


X 




n 






B 




'-~' 




,'7' 


K 




t 





3 ^ ^ -^ 
s. -^ g 

3 S 3 - 
P- S. £ ji 



D- 3 



S 

2-. a. 



o 

> 

a a 
y. 5 



§i 










-^ 




^ 
















X 




















B 




















■< 


















o 










o 








f 


B 








p 


3 










o 










3 








s 


3 


















S 


3 








p 


CD 









c 



X 



r 



The final record of distribution is kept upon a cai'd, the face and 
reverse side of which is lierewith shown. Only one species is entered 
on this card, and the cards are filed in alphabetical order. The amount 
we have on hand is shown at any time, together with the amount dis- 
tributed, and to whom. 



Agropyron tenerum 
(Slender wheat grass) 



Received erom — 


Amt. 

LBS. 


12 Griffiths & Lange 


31J 











Fiscal year 1900-1901. 



July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Deo. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


D. 


B. 


D. 


B. 


D. 


B. 


D. 


B. 


D. 


B. 


D. 


B. 


D. 


B. 


D. 


B. 


D. 


B. 


D. 


B. 


D. 


B. 


D. 


B. 



SYSTEM OF KEEPING RECORDS. 

[Reverse.] 



21 



Date. 


Amount. 


Xame. 


Post-office. 


State. 




5 
10 

10 






S. Dak. 


Feb. -25 




Laramie 


Wvo. 


Feb. 27 






Oreg. 


Feb. 28 










1 








1 








' 





It may interest .some to note the form of our accession cards, which 
is shown herewith: 



Seeds of — 

Agropyron tenerum. 
(Slender Tvheat grass) 



Collector's iSfo. 



Distribution Ko. 21. 
From Griffiths & Lange. Locality, Billings, Mont. Date, July 14, 1900. 
tude . Amount, pounds, 31 J. 



Alti- 



Habit of growth. 

Character of soil, . 

Use . 

By this system of records the Office of the Ag^rostologist has full data 
in regard to all seeds received or sent out, and it is possible to show at 
any time the variety or amount sent to any experiment station or to 
any individual in cooperation with the station. The totals of these 
amounts for the fiscal year 1900-1901 are shown in Tables II and in. 
Table IV contains a list of those experiment stations with which the 
Department of Agriculture, through the Office of the Agrostologist, is 
carrying on cooperative experiments in grass and forage plant investi- 
gations. This is a list of the stations with which the Department is 
working during the current fiscal year, for, although the law cited 
specifically directing the stations to cooperate with the Secretary of 
Agriculture along these lines is no longer in force, it having been 
omitted from the bill making appropriations for the Department dur- 
ing the present year, it has been deemed best to continue the work, 
apparently so well begun under the bill of last year. 



22 COOPERATIVE EXPERIMENTS. 

Table IV. — List of experiment stations loith which articles of cooperation have been signed. 



State. 


Object of investigations. 


Department al- 
lowance. 


Arizona^ 


For improving the forage conditions and renovating 
the ranges. 


Seeds and funds 










Do. 


Colorado 


Grass and forage plants for alkali and arid soils 

The best method of pasture and range improvement.. 
To find the best crops for use in securing a continuous 
soiling. 


Do. 




Do. 




Seeds only. 






To find the best grasses for fixing the drifting sands 
along the Great Lakes and to determine the possi- 


Do. 








bility of converting these into lands productive of 






forage and other crops. 




Missouri 




Do. 




ment of meadows and pastures in the Middle West- 






ern States. 






Growing and testing of native and cultivated grasses 
for the Great Plains region. 


Do. 






New Hampshire 


Improvement and renovation of worn-out hay and 
pasture land. 


Seeds and funds. 


New Mexico. 


Forage crops to supplement ranges and the improve- 
ment of cultivated lands. 


Seeds only. 






To find the best sand-binding grasses and to determine 
the possibility of rendering sandy lands productive 










of both grasses and forage plants. 




South Dakota 


For testing drought-resisting forage plants with a 
view to finding varieties suitable for use in the 
range region. 


Do. 


Tennessee 


Formation and management of pastures and meadows 
in Middle Southern States. 








Texas 


Formation of meadows and pastures in the Middle 


Seeds and funds. 




Southern States. 




Washington 


For improving forage conditions and renewing worn- 
out ranges. 


Do 










Seeds only. 
Do. 


Delaware 


Cover crops for orchards 


Utah 




Do. 





1 Not renewed for 1901-2. 

Since thi.s work of cooperation was first inaugurated the Bureau 
of Plant Industry, which includes the Office of the Agrostologist, has 
been established, and the new articles of cooperation now in force have 
been slightly' modified from those of last jeav to meet the new terms 
of expres.sion required by this new organization, and a similar modi- 
fication has been made in the letter addressed to individual applicants 
for seeds, as will appear from the copy presented below, which is that 
of the form now u.sed: 

U. S. Departmen't of Agriculture, Bureau op Plant Industry, 
Grass and Forage Plant Investigations, Office of the Agkostologist, 

Washington, D. C, , 190-. 



Dear Sir: 

Your letter of , addressed to — 

this office. The Department of Agriculture is conducting experiments with grasses 



requesting seeds, has been referred to 



CONCLUSION. 23 

and forage plants in your State in cooperation with your agricultural experiment 

station located at . In order to continue the plans already made we would 

ask you to kindly present your request through the director of your experiment sta- 
tion. We will be glad to honor, so far as possible, all such requests. Please state 
definitely to the director of the station the object of your request. 
Respectfully, 

F. Lamson-Scribner, Agrostologist. 

CONCIitrSION. 

Thus far our plan of cooperation with the stations in grass and for- 
age plant investigations and the manner of keeping our records, as 
above described, have been quite satisfactory, but it is not unlikely 
that some changes or improvements may be made as the work pro- 
gresses. Doubtless the work can be rendered more effective and more 
certain of useful results if an official of the Department can be located 
at those stations where important cooperative work is being carried on. 
This officer may be a scientific aid — and we are already employing sci- 
entific aids in this way — or he may be someone more experienced. In 
any case, he should be given immediate charge of the work, to which 
he should give his whole time while at the station. During some 
months of the year, especially during the winter season, he could 
spend his time at the Department in order to familiarize himself with 
our methods and make up his reports. It is to be regretted that 
the important work of grass and forage plant investigations has not 
more funds available for conducting this cooperative work on a larger, 
more effective, and more striking scale. 

I have only to add that I wish to give expression here to our most 
sincere regrets at the loss of Mr. Thomas A. Williams, in whose charge 
this cooperative work had been placed and who had so successfully 
carried out the ideas of the Department while engaged upon it. The 
present season Prof. A. S. Hitchcock has been placed in charge of this 
work and has visited many of the stations and made a special study of 
the conditions existing where cooperative work is being carried on. 

O 



r 



LEMr^ 



'-;^ 



DDD27bST2Sl 



.^- 



'♦rf^ 






^^) 



'^*. 




■-^.^ 



